Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "わかります", "わかる", "分かる", "汲み取る"
All represent the core concept "understand", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
わかります
わかります (wakarimasu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
わかる
わかる (wakaru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
分かる
わかる (wakaru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
汲み取る
くみとる (kumitoru)
N2 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "understand" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "わかります", "わかる", "分かる", "汲み取る" based on context.
- わかります (わかります (wakarimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to understand" and is used when Polite form of わかる. Indicates comprehension. Often used with particle が..
- わかる (わかる (wakaru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to understand, to know" and is used when Intransitive verb. Often used with the particle 「が.
- 分かる (わかる (wakaru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to understand" and is used when Intransitive verb. Often used with the particle が.
- 汲み取る (くみとる (kumitoru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to understand (someone's feelings/intentions), to grasp, to read between the lines" and is used when Implies understanding someone's unexpressed feelings, thoughts, or intentions, often empathetically. Not just intellectual understanding, but emotional recognition..
Context for "わかります"
英語がわかります。
I understand English.
Context for "わかる"
日本語がわかりますか。
Do you understand Japanese?
Context for "分かる"
先生の話がよく分かりました。
I understood the teacher's talk well.
Context for "汲み取る"
相手の気持ちを汲み取って行動する。
To act by understanding the other person's feelings.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "英語が ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I understand English.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "わかります" is correct here because it represents "to understand" in the context: "I understand English.".